NBA Free Agency: 3 best players for contenders to sign
By Jake Brown
NBA Free Agency: 3 best players for contenders to sign: Eric Bledsoe
It’s a crime that Eric Bledsoe is on this list to begin with, as he has proven time and time again that he can contribute both offensively and defensively to any contender that has the desire to sign him.
Eric Bledsoe has cleared waivers. He's now a free agent.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 9, 2022
It also appears that the Portland Trail Blazers chose to eat the entire $3.9M cap hit this season vs spreading it out at $1.3M per season over the next three seasons. Working to confirm that.
Last season, Bledsoe returned to the team that drafted him, the L.A. Clippers, where he posted 9.9 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 steals in the 54 games that he appeared in. It could have been likely that Bledsoe re-signed with the Clippers, but due to a contract buyout between the Houston Rockets and John Wall, Bledsoe’s former Kentucky teammate cleared waivers to sign with LA.
With a backcourt that already features Reggie Jackson, Paul George, and now John Wall, Bledsoe’s services are not needed for the Clippers. I could envision Bledsoe playing for a team like the Minnesota Timberwolves, having traded Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley, among others, for three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
Having solid two-way capabilities as a role player at this point in his career, Eric Bledsoe could be a crucial piece to this Timberwolves team as they try to correct their failures from years past.
The Timberwolves have won just a mere 3 playoff games in the last 18 years. Having Bledsoe on board could certainly boost that number in a year’s time. If the Timberwolves don’t capitalize on Bledsoe this late into free agency, I could also see Bledsoe making a return to the Milwaukee Bucks to bolster their backcourt.